LAWYER David Johnson has gone back to the future after his firm merged with Manchester practice Pannone & Partners.

David began his career at the Deansgate outfit as a legal executive before qualifying as a solicitor elsewhere.

Now Pannone & Partners has added £1m to its £38m annual fee income, and 30 staff to its 600-plus payroll, by linking up with Johnson Yates.

David and Greg Yates formed their firm earlier this year by amalgamating JTP Solicitors and Addison Yates. The personal injury specialists had offices in Bolton and Manchester.

The merger with Pannone & Partners was completed in just two months. David and Greg joined as partners.

Johnson Yates brings with it several big-name clients, including Aon, DAS and Marsh.

Joy Kingsley, managing partner at Pannone, said: "The contacts that Johnson Yates has belie its size, and they needed a larger practice to provide the necessary resources to support their existing clients."